Utility building



Nov. 13, 1962 Filed July 29, 1958 E. V. TROXEL UTILITY BUILDING 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1962 E. v. TROXEL UTILITY BUILDING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EmeTczZJ V. @023e Z ATTORNEY Filed July 29, 1958 United States Patent Bhdd Patented Nov. 13, 1962 hice 3,063,104 UTILITY BUILDWG Emerald V. Troxel, Battle Qreelr, Mich. Filed July 29, 1958, Ser. No. 751,675 1 Claim. (Cl. Ztl- 2) The present invention relates broadly to buildings and parts of same, and in its specific phases to an exceptionally simple and inexpensive building having a preferably precut wooden frame structure covered with a modern, preferably transparent plastic, and means for Ventilating same.

Greenhouses are conventionally constructed for permanent location use and are supplied with glassed-in roof, end and side walls, and almost universally with hinged sections of the roof which are openable for ventilation. It is difficult to keep the roof and ventilators from leaking, and the construction of these greenhouses is comparatively expensive. It was a recognition of these problems in the greenhouse field, and the unfilled need for low cost buildings for greenhouse, play house, and general weather protection use of various items and equipment which led to the conception and development of the present invention.

Accordingly among the objects of the present invention is the development of a building which may be shipped from a factory in knocked-down, relatively small package, form and readily assembled, and may be supplied in different sizes for various purposes, for example, as a childrens play house, a recreation room, an outside shop, a greenhouse, a solarium, et cetera.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an unusually low cost and simple, yet highly practical building which will be very desirable and relatively durable for many purposes.

Another object is to provide inclined rafters having integral downturned lower ends secured to a base frame and constituting side wall studs.

A further object is to construct each rafter and the connected stud from wood strips which have been adhesively coated and bent into shape before setting of the ply-connecting adhesive, and held in the desired shape during adhesive setting, whereby said shape will be retained.

Yet another object is to provide longitudinal tie bars secured to the lower end portions of the rafters and aiding in holding the frame structure against warping and shifting under conditions of use.

A still further object is to provide the building of the present invention with a novel and advantageous ventilator which 4will both discharge fresh air into the building and exhaust stale air therefrom.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then consists of the building and ventilating means for same as hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevation with most of the plastic covering broken away to show the frame structure.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation with some of the plastic covering broken away.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical, longitudinal section as taken on line 3 3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FlGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the inside face of a portion of one of the endmost rafters and the preferred manner of securing the upper ends of the end wall studs thereto.

FGURE 5 is a similar inside face View showing the preferred manner of securing the lower ends of the end wall studs to the base frame.

FIGURE 6 is a similar view showing one of the preferred halved-together joints employed at the corners of the base frame.

FIGURE 7 is a similar view showing the preferred notched formation for each of the longitudinal tie bars.

The construction disclosed in the drawings is to a large extent illustrative rather than limiting. Therefore, even though that construction will be rather specifically described, it is to be understood that variations within the spirit and scope of the invention may well be made.

A rectangular base frame 10 is provided and may be nailed to stakes 11 driven into the ground or otherwise mounted. The side bars 12 and end bars 13 of the frame 1b are connected by halved-together joints 14, FIG- URE 6, at the frame corners.

'fhe inclined rafters 1S, FIGURES l and 2, have downturned lower end portions constituting side wall studs 16, the juncture portions 17 between the rafter and studforming portions being gently curved. The lower ends of the studs 16 are conventionally fastened, such as by nailing, to the side bars i12 of the base frame 10; and the upper ends of said rafters 1S are rnitered and conventionally fastened, as by nailing to a ridge board 18. This ridge board 18 and the side bars 12 may be either marked or socketed to locate the ends of the rafters and studs.

The integrally connected rafter 15, stud 16, and juncture portion 17 are preferably formed of laminated wood as shown, and said juncture portion 17 is curved before the adhesive sets-up and secures the wood plies 19 together. The curvature is maintained until the adhesive fully sets and the three elements 15, 16 and 17 will therefore retain their required relation. The glue used is preferably of waterproof type suitable for exposed or outside use. However, Where suitable short Wave heating equipment is available, a plastic glue of the thermosetting type can be used to advantage.

, Two longitudinal tie bars 2li, FIGURE 7, one at each side of the building, are nailed or otherwise conventionally fastened firmly to the lower end portions of the rafters 15 to space these rafters and the studs 16 uniformly and to aid in generally bracing the frame structure againstv warping or shifting under conditions of use. Knee braces 44, FIGURE l, may also be used to stabilize the building frame against endwise swaying under moderate Wind pressure. Each tie bar 2li is preferably pre-notched at 21, FIGURE 7, to snugly Vreceive the rafters 15 and properly space them. However, the tie bars could be merely marked, rather than notched, for rafter location. In either instance, the rafters are preferably marked to aid in properly locating the position of the tie bars.

End wall studs 22, FIGURES 2, 4 and 5, are nailed, or otherwise fastened, at their upper ends to the endmost of the rafters 15 and are likewise conventionally fastened, such as by nailing, at their lower ends to the end bars 13 of the base frame 10. The stud ends are preferably pre-notched at 23 and 24, FIGURES 4 and 5,Y for engagement withthe rafters 15 and bars 13. However, the notches could be omitted if desired. In either instance, suitable marks may be provided to aid in stud location prior to anchoring.

Two of the end wall studs 22 are sufficiently spaced to accommodate a door 25 of suitable height and width which is hinged at 26 to one of said studs and closes against stops 27, FIGURE 3. Over the door 25 a header 28 extends between the two last mentioned studs; and two short studs 29, FIGURE 2, extend from this header to the end rafters 15. A short horizontal frame member 30, FIGURE 3, is secured to the short studs 29 and coacts therewith and with the rafters in forming a receiving frame for a set of air-admission louvers 31. A similar construction at the opposite end of the building provides a receiving frame for a set of air discharge louvers 32.

A sheet metal or plywood conduit 33, FIGURE 3, is suitably mounted directly under the ridge board 18 and communicates with the louvered air inlet 34 at one end and the louvered air outlet 35 at the other. An electric fan 36 is mounted in the conduit 33 to create a current of air therein from the inlet 34 to the outlet 35. This conduit is preferably formed without outwardly extending members so that it can be slid into place after the main framework has been assembled, and then anchored to same.

The bottom of the conduit 33 has one series 37 of louvers and a second series `38 of louvers. The louvers 39 of the series 37 extend into the conduit and are pitched to intercept part of the fresh air current through the conduit 33 and direct it into 4the building. The louvers 40 of the series 38 extend into the conduit and are oppositely pitched to cause evacuation of stale air from the building by venturi action. The series 37 is preferably much longer than the series "3S so as to better distribute and freshen the air in the building being ventilated.

The Ventilating means, which is normally used only in hot weather, has been found to insure admission and circulation of fresh air and exhaust of stale air, and keeps the interior of the building relatively comfortable even in extremely hot weather.

The frame structure above described is covered with a covering 41 of plastic sheet material, preferably transparent, and said covering is secured to the frame by small nails and nailing strips 42. Polyethylene sheet material has been found to be a suitable material for the covering, although other tough and waterproof sheet material may be used if desired. It should be rather tautly applied but not stretched since that places an undesirable pull on the fastening nails and may lead to tearing; and it may be supplied in pre-cut pieces for convenient application, if desired.

The door 2S, FIGURE 2, preferably consists of a wooden frame covered with a sheet 43 of the same plastic which is preferably held in place by means of nails and nailing strips 42.

The building of the present invention may be nailed or otherwise substantially permanently assembled, or if it is desired to have a dismountable construction, screws or bolts can be used in place of nails. Dismountable construction makes possible movement of the assembly as desired, or even dismounting and storage between seasons or periods of use.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a novel and advantageous utility building has been disclosed. Attention, however, is again invited to the possiblity of making variations within the spirit and scope of the invention as illustrated and described.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the building structure and combinations herein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

In a ventilated Prefabricated building of generally skeletonized construction, a frame structure including a substantially rectangular base frame, inclined rafters over said base frame and having integral downturned lower end portions constituting side wall studs, said side wall studs being secured to the side member of said base frame, a ridge board to which the upper ends of said rafters are secured, said building including aligned framed openings in opposite ends thereof, Ventilating means including a unitary, tubular, elongated duct with an inlet and an outlet respectively in the opposite ends of said framed openings telescopically received in said aligned openings, said duct being a unit part of said building and located adjacent and beneath said ridge board, means for removing air into the inlet and through said duct, a rst series of louvers only in the bottom of said duct and down-stream of lower openings and wholly within and extending part way across said duct and starting near said inlet of said duct and terminating in inwardly spaced relation with the outlet thereof, a second series of louvers only in the bottom of said duct and upstream of lower openings and wholly within and extending part way across said duct between said first-named series of louvers and the outlet of said duct, said first-named series of louvers being pitched angularly toward the direction of air flow to deliver air from said duct into said building, and second-named series of louvers being pitched angularly away from the direction of air flow to cause the air current owing full length through said duct toward the outlet of the latter to draw stale air from said building through said second series of louvers by venturi action and deliver same to the outlet of said duct, end wall studs secured to the end members of said rst frame and to the endmost of said inclined rafters supporting and forming said framed openings, entrance means in at least one of said end walls, and wide exble plastic sheet material secured over said frame structure and cooperating therewith in forming side and end walls and a roof, a portion of said plastic sheet material extending completely across the outer face of a multiplicity of said roof and side wall framing members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,921 Hill June 7, 1910 963,590 Laughinghouse July 5, 1910 1,518,715 Walker Dec 19, 1924 2,053,462 Chaplin Sept. 8, 1936 2,148,575 Newlin Feb. 28, 1939 2,169,474 Pederson Aug. 15, 1939 2,188,566 Cowderroy-Dale Jan. 30, 1940 2,419,806 Wendel Apr. 29, 1947 2,475,433 McLaughlin July 5, 1949 2,480,330 Kump Aug. 30, 1949 2,489,515 Blake Nov. 29, 1949 2,590,464 Raymond Mar. 25, 1952 2,652,599 Rodda et al Sept. 22, 1953 2,823,683 Smith et al. Feb. 18, 1958 2,827,138 Roy Mar. 18, 1958 2,869,561 Harkness Jan. 20, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES New Building Demonstrates Modern Wood Construction, Reprint from Engineering News-Record, Apr. 11, 1935, L. V. Teesdale.

Architectural Forum, page 124, October 1947.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v CERTIFICA'IEA OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,063,104 November 13, 1962 Emera1d V. Troxel It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as 1 corrected below.

Column 4, line for lmember read members line 15, for "removing" read moving same column 1, line 33, for "first" read base Signed and sealed this 7th day of May 1963.

(SEAL) Attest:

y.ERNEST W. SWIDER v DAVID L. LADD v Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

